Water News
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Alberta Water News is a free, subscription-based service that provides the latest information on water news across Alberta and upcoming events.
The news is distributed weekly on Mondays via a collated email and Monday to Friday via WaterPortal social media (X was Twitter). Please note that news will not be distributed on Holiday Mondays and will be released the following Tuesday.
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Compare and contrast: ‘My life has improved’: Water tower and rationing bring hope to drought-stricken community in Zambia
EuroNews Green
Brought by the naturally occurring El Ni o weather pattern, the drought has triggered emergency responses in at least five countries.” A prolonged drought in Southern Africa has plunged nations into crisis as they battle with severe water shortages, blackouts and devastated harvests. Click here to read the story. Click the following link for more information on Drought.
Rural water utilities in ‘poor condition’ and need $2.96 billion investment: report
CTV News
There are thousands of kilometres of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure connecting homes and businesses in rural Alberta – and no matter the type of utility you look at or the region it’s in, you’ll find this essential infrastructure is in poor condition and in need of significant investment, according to a new report from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA). Click here to read the story. Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.
B.C. atmospheric river a successful first test of community-led rain management project
CBC
The torrential rains that drenched the Lower Mainland last weekend were the first test for a new, community-led rainwater solution in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Click here to read the story. Click the following link for more information on Flood.
Brock research investigating potential neurotoxin in Lake Erie algae
Water Canada
Algae that wash up on shorelines and start turning black aren’t just a smelly eyesore they could also be the source of a dangerous chemical compound that contaminates the surrounding environment and endangers public health. Click here to read the story.
Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation
Public Services International
The Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC) launched the 4th edition of its annual Week of Action Against Water Privatisation, coinciding with the World Bank’s Annual General Meeting. This year’s event is being held from October 21st to October 26th, 2024, under the theme ‘Water Justice Over Profit’, highlighting the growing demand across Africa for equitable access to water, free from the constraints of privatisation and profit-driven policies. Click here to read the story. Click the following link for more information on Governance.
Engineers invent high-yield atmospheric water capture device for arid regions
Tech Xplore
The idea of turning the air around us into drinking water is a marvel on its own. And grabbing a sustainable amount of it from low-humidity environments has long been closer to science fiction than reality. Click here to read the story.
Funding for design plan to expand Lethbridge’s water treatment plant announced
CTV News
A design plan is now underway to increase the capacity of Lethbridge’s Water Treatment Plant. We know on peak days our demands exceed that 90 per cent of the plants current design capacity,” said Hyggen. Click here to read the story. Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.
Compare and contrast: Millions in the US may rely on groundwater contaminated with PFAS for drinking water supplies
Phys.org
Approximately 71 to 95 million people in the Lower 48 states more than 20% of the country’s population may rely on groundwater that contains detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, for their drinking water supplies. These findings are according to a U.S Geological Survey study published in the journal Science. Click here to read the story.
Compare and contrast: Asheville Has Tap Water, but No One Knows When It Will Be Drinkable
The New York Times
Nearly a month after the remnants of Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, running water has now been restored to most of the region around Asheville but you can’t drink it yet.” “What comes out of the tap is often yellow or brown, and while it can be used to flush toilets and take showers, it is still unsafe for human consumption. Officials have given no indication of when the water will be safe to drink again, and the reservoir that feeds the system still looks like it is filled with chocolate milk rather than pristine water. Click here to read the story. Click the following link for more information on Climate and Severe Weather.
Compare and contrast: Water for a Desert Lake in Algeria
NASA Earth Observatory
Projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that while parts of the Sahara may receive more rainfall as global temperatures increase, other parts may receive less. “But the uncertainties in these projections are larger than the projected changes,” said Armon. “What’s going to happen in the Sahara remains very unclear, but we hope that we’ll eventually develop a better understanding of the Sahara’s future by studying these lake-filling events.”. Click here to read the story. Click the following link for more information on Drought.